Lake Erie Bill Of Rights

In this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss the upcoming ballot measure that would give Toledo citizens the ability to sue on behalf of the Lake Erie ecosystem.

In 2014, a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie left Toledo residents without clean drinking water for three days. Fertilizer runoff from farms is seen as a major cause of the problem, but lawmakers have been slow to take action.

Later this month, Toledoans will vote on a proposed "Lake Erie Bill of Rights." The city charter amendment would give Toledo residents guardianship over the lake and allow them to file lawsuits to fight against pollution and other threats to the ecosystem.

Snollygoster Of The Week

Ohio state Sen. Joe Uecker blocked a constituent from posting on his public Facebook page. That move will cost him $20,000 in a court settlement that ruled the block was a violation of free speech rights.

To send us comments or to nominate your candidate for Snollygoster of the Week, email us at snollygoster@wosu.org.

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The Kasich administration says it’s disappointed in a commission’s vote last week to delay action on the governor’s executive order creating tougher rules on farm runoff to clean Lake Erie. But farmers say they’re already implementing water quality practices, so the state still has time to work on the issue.

A state panel again Thursday delayed implementation of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's plan to create new regulations on thousands of farms in a bid to reduce fertilizer and manure feeding Lake Erie's sometimes toxic algae blooms.